[Elecraft] DMM Minimum Capacitance Measurements ?

[L. D. Ingram]

Jim,

I imagine different DMMs have different lower ranges, but what ever the 
lower range is, you can measure even smaller capacitors by paralleling them 
with one that does fall into the lower range of your particular DMM. First 
measure the value of the capacitor that falls within your DMM's range then 
connect the smaller one in parallel - the difference in the new value 
measured is the capacitance of the smaller one. Of course with small values 
you have to use the shortest possible test leads and make sure they stay 
about the same distance apart for both measurements.

Larry Ingram   AG4NN   K2 sn 2529

<snip.
>What is the lowest capacitance value you can measure with the popular  DMMs ?
>
>(in picoFarads ?)  DMM specs do not spell out what the minimum 
>capacitance  is..
>
>Jim - W1FMR
>
>.
<snip>